Commercial Painting Cost Guide for 2023

If you want your office, business premises or warehouse painted, you'll need a commercial painter. Commercial painting may cost more than domestic painting and decorating depending on your property size, when you want the painter to decorate and the type of paint you require.

So how much should you expect to spend on commercial painting?

How much does commercial painting cost per square metre in the UK?

Generally, commercial painters and decorators charge a rate starting from £3 per square metre per coat, but this will vary depending on where you are in the country. A commercial painter and decorator may also give you a quote based on an hourly rate.

Here are the average costs for commercial painting:

These rates for commercial painting and decorating are based on UK averages. Expect to pay much more if your property is located in London or any other major city. If your business premises is in a more remote area, you may also pay more, due to your painter and decorator's travel costs.

How long does it take a professional painter to paint a room?

How long it takes a professional painter to paint a room will depend on its size and how much preparation work is needed, like sanding and filling.

For a 3.6m x 3.6m room, expect it to take a painter and decorator at least 6 hours to paint. It's also worth bearing in mind that if people are still working in your commercial property, it might take a decorator longer to paint, since they'll have to keep out of the way of other people.

Office painting costs

If you're having your office painted, it's worth considering whether you can ask your painter and decorator to start early in the morning or after 5pm when your staff have gone home.

While painters and decorators are likely to charge more to paint your office outside of normal working hours, it may cost you less in the long run. If they are trying to decorate when there is a full office, they will probably take longer as there will be more health and safety concerns in trying to keep equipment out of walkways and corridors.

Alternatively, you might want to consider asking your staff to work from home for a few days while the decorating is completed.

Shop or salon painting costs

If you have a shop, salon or other business premises that welcomes customers inside, expect to pay more for painting and decorating than in an office. Generally shops and service premises will have lots of stock, shelving and furniture to move around. If you can't clear this in preparation for the decorators to arrive, expect to pay more as the decorators will have to work around your things.

It's worth seeing if you can move some furniture into a room that you don’t need decorating to help reduce costs.

Commercial unit painting costs

Commercial units that store stock or don't have heating on regularly may need moisture-resistant paint that will prevent condensation or damp.

A decorator will be able to recommend a good quality paint, and they may be able to supply it for you. Brands like Dulux, Leyland, Armstead or Zinsser all manufacture moisture-resistant paint.

Expect to pay between £9-£20 per litre for this type of paint.

Factors to consider when painting your commercial property

Type of paint required

Consider the type of paint you'll need for your commercial property. You may need different kinds for different areas.

For example, if you are having a kitchen area painted in your premises, a moisture-resistant paint is worth considering. Equally, if you're painting a high-traffic area such as a corridor, you may want to consider a washable paint or something hard wearing like a silk finish.

Insurance concerns

When you're looking for a commercial painter and decorator, it's important to check that they’ve got the right level of public liability insurance.

Painters who work on residential properties should have public liability insurance up to a value of £5 million, but they will likely need much more cover to work on a commercial property.

Make sure you speak to a decorator about how much cover they have. Also consider whether you have the right insurance cover in place for your commercial property.

Health considerations

If you own a customer-facing business, you'll need to consider your customers' health and wellbeing. Paint contains VOCs – volatile organic compounds. These are human-made chemicals that can cause problems like headaches, nausea, throat irritation and damage to organs when they're released into the air in high concentration.

Luckily, most water-based paint contains low levels of VOCs these days, but most commercial paint still contains some. It's important to ventilate the area you've had painted to allow for good air circulation.

Depending on your business and the rooms you’re having painted, you may need to consider closing while the paint dries. If you don't open every day of the week, see if you can ask your painter and decorator to work on these days so you don’t lose too many working hours.

Get a range of quotes

The most important thing with commercial painting is to get at least three quotes from reputable painters and decorators in your area. By comparing quotes, you’ll ensure you get the best price.

Post your job on HaMuch now to get in touch with trusted local painters and decorators that are available to do the work.

Estimates for common painter & decorator jobs;

Rates for other trades